Waikato Regional Councillor and Raglan local, Fred Lichtwark says it’s critical that the Raglan community votes in the October election to balance the overwhelming rural voters throughout the Waikato region.
“Lots of people get confused between the Waikato district and regional Councils. The Regional Council stretches from Tuakau to Coromandel to the top of Mt Ruapehu. It’s a huge area, with lots of different issues and lots of different communities. But Raglan has been fortunate to have someone elected to one of the 12 seats on Regional Council.”
However, Fred says the Regional Council is biased towards rural perspectives. “This means Regional Council has taken its time to enforce rules and regulations to protect water quality, so there is a contining decline in water quality, despite many farmers doing their best. Since I’ve been on Council, I’ve encouraged effective riparian planting as well as the use of technology to improve consent compliance and ensure polluters are caught. Wherever you live, everyone deserves clean water and a healthy environment.”
Fred says with some successful lobbying, he’s also got transitioning to a low carbon economy on Council’s agenda.
“In my next three years, I’ll be pushing for free additional buses between Hamilton and Raglan, I’m supporting high speed electrified rail between Hamilton and Auckland, and I’m supporting the use of waste as energy, rather than disposal to landfill. The big issues facing Raglan in the next few years are carbon capture of our greenhouse gas emissions, the renewal of wastewater and stormwater consents and the coastal plan review.”
Fred says he hopes all eligible voters take the opportunity to vote and he looks forward to representing Raglan’s views as your Waikato Regional Councillor.
